| Re: A Thought on Possible Contradictions Relating to the 5 K's and Amrit
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Originally Posted by Caspian  I come from a gur-sikh family and when I was little my grandpa would read stories to me about the teachings, practices and lives of the Gurus. Growing up however I started becoming less and less religious; although, I think I have a considerable amount of knowledge pretaining to sikhism and other relegions. Despite the fact I think I "know" a lot about these relegions, I cant help but waiver between being agnostic and athiest (  , this has a lot to do with me taking science courses cuz my punjabi family wants me to become a doctor, so typical huh?). I know there's no real contradiction between sikhism and science but I think that there are some contradictions between the teachings, practices and lives of the gurus. For my example, I will cite from "SikhiWiki" which is a wikipedia like site dedicated to information on sikhism. | Quote:
Originally Posted by Caspian Example 1: This is an anecdote from the early life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji "Guru Nanak from an early age evidenced a questioning and enquiring mind. He soon mastered the Vedas and Sanskrit and was enrolled into a madrassa to study Persian and Arabic. Picking up both languages quickly, he surprised his teacher by composing an acrostic on the Persian language. When it was time for Nanak to be invested with the twice born thread the “sacred” thread, called the Janeu, he refused to take part in the ritual. When the priest continued to insist that the young Nanak done the string he went into a trance and sang: Let mercy be the cotton, contentment the thread, Continence the knot and truth the twist. Oh priest! if you have such a thread, Do give it to me. It will not wear out, nor get soiled, nor be burnt, nor lost. Says Nanak, blessed are those who go about wearing such a thread." So basically, a young Nanak rejected the ritual thread of the Hindu priest and justified it by suggesting that a simple piece of thread cannot make you a true Hindu, it's almost "for show" instead a true Hindu or any "good person" in the eyes of god has all the good attributes within them (this is the interpretation I was told from my grandfather). - Gurinder | Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh! Good inquiry though, but here is the answer! Let us first see what is Janeu is meant for - : Janeu is a consecrated thread that is worn by each and every Hindu Brahmin of India. This holy thread of 'Janeo' suggests the development of a male, from a young boy to a man. It is believed that a boy cannot be surmised as "Dvija" (twice born) until he wears the janeu. Besides the Brahmins, Janeo thread is also worn by the Kshatriyas and Vaishyas. The type of Janeu is different for different caste groups or sects of people of the Indian subcontinent.
One is Brahmgandh Janeu (with 5 knots or 3 knots), which is meant for Brahmins and the other is Vishnugandh Janeu (with one knot), meant for other classes. In case a Brahmin desires to become scholarly in the Vedas, he must wear janeu at 5 years of age. If a Kshatriya desires to gain strength, he should wear janeo at 6 and if a Vaishya desires for success, he must wear the Janeu at 8 years of age. Janeu is generally made of cotton thread; however Kshatriya and Vaishya wear threads made out of hempen and wool respectively. Brahmins use 'Janeu' thread with three strands. These three strands of 'Janeo' have been studied many a times and different personalities gave several opinions regarding this tradition. To some people, the three strands stand for the Hindu Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. Others interpreted it as symbolical of Mahasarasvati, Mahalakshmi and Mahakali. Many people believed it to be related with past, present and future.
A number of persons stated it to be representative of three qualities - sattva, rajas and tamas. A few considered the three strands as sign of three states-wakefulness, dream and deep sleep. Some of them mentioned it to signify three dimensions of Heaven (swarga), Earth (mrityuloka) and Nether Regions (pataloka). Out of all opinions, the most logical is janeu's account with Ida, pingala and susumna nadi, through which the 'kundalini' (hidden) energy reveals in 'prana' and realization. Janeu Thread - Indian Janeu Thread Tradition, Holy Thread Janeu, Janeu Ceremony of India Points to be noted -: Further initiates the case system and division. Humm, but is Khalsa a division too? Nope. A Brahmin can only have so many knots and so on according to class, but point of Khalsa is no class but unity! “the most logical is janeu's account with Ida, pingala and susumna nadi, through which the 'kundalini' (hidden) energy reveals in 'prana' and realization” – GOOD, but I will come back to this! Guru Nanak Said the following quotes relating to this sakhi! Make mercy thy cotton, contentment thy thread, continence its knot, truth its twist.
That would make a janoy for the soul; if thou have it, O Brahman, then put it on me.
It will not break, or become soiled, or be burned, or lost.
Blest the man, O Nanak, who goeth with such a thread on his neck.
Thou purchasest a janeu for four damris, and seated in a square puttest it on;
Thou whisperest instruction that the Brahman is the guru of the Hindus--
Man dieth, the janeu falleth, and the soul departeth without it. Points to be noted -: Guru sahib is asking that a true Janeu is one that contains -: Mercy, contentment, continence, truth = janoy for the soul (then put it on me). Next quote: Though men commit countless thefts, countless adulteries, utter countless falsehoods and countless words of abuse;
Though they commit countless robberies and villanies night and day against their fellow creatures;
Yet the cotton thread is spun, and the Brahman cometh to twist it.
For the ceremony they kill a goat and cook and eat it, and everybody then saith 'Put on the janeu'.
When it becometh old, it is thrown away, and another is put on, Nanak, the string breaketh not if it be strong. Points to be noted -: Guru Sahib is condemning: Thefts, adulteries, falsehoods, words of abuse, robberies, villanies and “Yet the cotton thread is spun, and the Brahman cometh to twist it”. Next Quote: By adoring and praising the Name honour and a true thread are obtained.
In this way a sacred thread shall be put on, which will not break, and which will be fit for entrance into God's court. Points to be noted -: Guru Sahib is suggesting: Praising Name = true thread obtained i.e. how to (Mercy, contentment, continence, truth is obtained) There is no string for the sexual organs, there is no string for women; There is no string for the impure acts which cause your beards to be daily spat upon;
There is no string for the feet, there is no string for the hands
There is no string for the tongue, there is no string for I the eyes.
Without such strings the Brahman wandereth astray,
Twisteth strings for the neck, and putteth them on others.
He taketh hire for marrying;
He pulleth out a paper, and showeth the fate of the wedded pair.
Hear and see, ye people, it is strange
That, while mentally blind, man is named wise. Points to be noted -: Guru Sahib is giving the negatives/missings of Janeu: “no string for the sexual organs, no string for women, no string for the impure acts, no string for the feet, no string for the hands, no string for the tongue, no string for I the eyes” and without these “Brahman wandereth astray. Twisteth strings for the neck, and putteth them on others. Conclusively, “while mentally blind, man is named wise.” All in all such is the reasoning that Guru Sahib provided! Now coming to Khalsa, the “Gatra” (cloth part) was common part of military use for holding “Talwars”. Obviously, it would be required for “Kirpan” too, but also there some related other aspects. I assume, that you would agree that Khalsa code of conduct prohibits – *Thefts, adulteries, falsehoods, words of abuse, robberies, villanies*, while it also propounds *Praising Name = true thread obtained i.e. how to (Mercy, contentment, continence, truth is obtained)*. Furthermore, it propounds a “string” (used metaphorically by Guru Sahib and das) as explained by das in previous post, guarantees women the same right, as well for feet and hand ( If you follow the path of truth fullness as described by Guru Sahib) = not called mentally blind because Khalsa is that who is beyond irrationality (Khals = Pure). The most important point to notice are “…then put it on me, …Yet … cometh to twist it, ..putteth them on others”. According to the ritual of Janeu it is put on without consent and according to age, while acceptance of Amrit Chaka is one’s personal decision and only when he/she wills to be Khals. I will go further into importance of “Kirpan” and”Amrit Sanchar” as spiritual as well physical phenomena. Also, specifically answer your posed questions. Right now there is not enough time. Please, ask any specifics or flaws you find so that I can clarify those too. Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!  |